Clarence v Launceston City (WSL)

90+1′ GOAL 4-0! Bygrave threads a pass through to Fagan who holds off a defender before rifling in a bullet into the top of the net! That’s her hat-trick, two in two weeks.

89′ Downham releases Clark with a superb through ball but the City defence gets back to pressure her and eventually see the ball out of play.

87′ Steventon makes a good goal line block to deny Kearney’s drive, in the follow up Dixon goes down and had shouts for a penalty but they are turned aside.

85′ Shot on! Bygrave lofts a fine through ball to release Fagan who shoots powerfully at Vanerniet who makes a sharp save.

80′ Clarence pushing hard to a goal here but the physical edge that City have is showing. The reds have had some positive moments in attack and got some good balls into the box but they aren’t translating into shots.

74′ Launceston down to 10 for the time being as Antypas gone off. Not sure what is wrong, but City not too phased as the game is well and truly within their keeping.

69′ Shot off! The woodwork denies Fagan a second hat-trick is as many weeks. Hernyk did well down the left to square it her, she got a touch on it to direct is past Vanderniet, but smashes into the post.

61′ Slight delay here as an injury to the City keeper requires some treatment. Mccullogh seems to have done something to her arm, doesn’t look good unfortunately. Dewsbury comes on for her.

59′ GOAL 3-0! A long ball over the top, Fagan gets to it before Vanderniet, she rounds the keeper and places it into the back of the net.

58′ GOAL! 2-0! Fagan drives a powerful blast the near post, Vanderniet gets some of it, but can’t keep it out. City now putting their control of the ga,me onto the scoreboard.

SUB- Duffy replaced by Dunbabin.

51′ GOAL! City open the scoring, Emily Hernyk cuts inside and slices through the heart of the Reds defence before burying it into the bottom corner with a perfectly placed shot.

48′ Clark and Maundrill combine up top as a sharp counter attack almost produces something for Clarence but the offside flag is raised.

47′ Save! Vanderniet strong again, denies Fagan at the near post after Storay had played a fine ball over the top of the defence to set her away one on one with the keeper.

45′ Second half underway. Can City convert their dominance or will Clarence spring something back the other way?

So half time here at Wentworth and the game has gone largely as expected. Clarence defending stoutly and holding on under mounting pressure from City. They generated more chances as the half wore on but the best chance was the one in the opening minute of the game. In attack Clarence haven’t offered any particular threat, but with City rolling out a back three, there is potential for something in behind on the counter if they can just hold on.

HALF TIME: Clarence 0-0 Launceston City

45+2′ A free kick is swung into the box by Bygrave, it falls to Fujimoto who drives straight at the keeper.

45′ Shot on! Bygrave with a speculative effort from 30 yards out that was dipping in but Vanderniet got a palm to it to tip it over the top.

40′ Cleared off the line! Goss scrambles back to stop the ball getting over the line but Vanderniet had taken most the pace off the ball with a fine save to deny Fagan after some slick work from Antypas.

38′ Shot on! Vanderniet with a regulation stop to deny Hernyk after a cross from Storay had caused some problems at the back.

33′ SAVE! Hernyk blasts a shot from close range which Vanderniet denies with a terrific reflex stop. That was hit hard, did incredibly well to react in time.

Sub- Injury appears to have forced Sims off for Clarence, she is replaced by Maurdill.

30′ Dixon has been her imposing self in defence again today, has been simply flawless cutting out crosses and through balls. City have had a lot of the ball but aren’t really penetrating.

24′ Hernyk swings in a corner that Bygrave rises to meet but her header lacks direction and is no threat to the goal.

23 Shot on! First time a keeper has been called into action, Antypas with a curled effort but straight at the keeper.

17′ Shot off! Johnston does nicely down the left and cuts inside onto her right foot to shoot but it is dragged past the near post/.

Launceston City dominating territoriality so far but Clarence looking quite well organised in defence.

14′ Shot off! Goss does well to put pressure on Bygrave who launched a shot from range which flew wide.

7′ Shot off! Fagan looking lively early, this time she hits the outside of the post with her shot from the angle, Vanderniet seemed to have it covered had it not struck the post.

5′ Shot off! Fagan fires just past the post from the edge of the box after Storay had layed it back to her.

1′ Shot off! A minute in and City should be ahead. Storay took the ball in the middle and just dissected the Clarence defence with a superb splitting ball into the box, but Bygrave fired her shot just wide when 1 on 1.

Team Sheets

Welcome to Wentworth Park for the first time in 2017 as Clarence United play host to a Launceston City side making their first journey south this season. City will be expecting to make it 2 from 2 but will need to the sharp in attack to break down a Clarence side that can be a tough nut to crack. The Dixon/Holmes defensive partnership looked promising against Zebras and with one of the stars of the league in Amelia Vanderniet behind them City will need to be clinical. Experienced players like Storay, Bygrave and Steventon will look to control the game from the midfield and it is an area that on paper City seemed to have the advantage in. Games aren’t won on paper though, or with possession and Clarence will look to absorb pressure before hitting them on the break with quicker players like Kearney who impressed last week against Zebras.

Featured

The appetite for a professional sporting franchise down here remains as ravenous as ever. Tasmanian’s love their sport and they have been starved of representation in National competitions, looked over time after time. The AFL clearly won’t be the ones to sate that hunger, thus FFA finds itself with the chance to both fill that gap in the market and strike a blow against the AFL in one fell swoop.